One of the coolest things about Messages is the cross-device functionality, in that you can send messages to and from your Mac and your iOS devices. I use it while at work to chat with folks who text me from their iPhone; it’s a really handy way to avoid using a tiny screen while at work, not to mention letting you keep your iPHone in a bag, instead of beeping or vibrating on your desk.

Now, though, you can send an iMessage in the Notification Center in OS X Mavericks beta. Here’s how.

First up, click on the Notification Center icon in the upper right corner of your Mac’s screen, the thing that looks like a To-Do list. This will allow Notification Center to slide out from the right of your screen. When you do so, you’ll notice, right underneath the Do Not Disturb toggle, the Tweet, Facebook, and Messages buttons. Click on the little Messages icon, which looks like a couple of superimposed chat bubbles, and–if you’re signed in to Messages on your Mac–a little field will appear, letting you type in a phone number or contact name from anyone who has Messages on their Mac or iOS device.

Type your message in, then hit Send. If your contact is an Messages user, on their Mac or iOS device, then they’ll get your message, without you having to open up Messages on your Mac. Nice!

About the author

Rob LeFebvre is an Anchorage, Alaska-based writer and editor who has contributed to various tech, gaming and iOS sites, including 148Apps, Creative Screenwriting, Shelf-Awareness, VentureBeat, and Paste Magazine. Feel free to find Rob on Twitter @roblef, and send him a cookie once in a while; he'll really appreciate it.

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